Light fixture

ABSTRACT

A light fixture with hollow chandelier arms which support an electrical light source and are rotatably mounted on a wire splice housing. The chandelier arms form conduits for electrical wires to the light sources, and may be rotated with respect to the housing to fold into a smaller volume for shipment or the like without breaking the electrical connections to the light sources. The light fixture may be suspended on a chain or mounted in a floor stand, or incorporated in a pole for support of a tent or the like.

U United States Patent 1191 1111 3,745,330 Frost July 10, 1973 i 1 LIGHT FIXTURE [76] Inventor: Carl A. Frost, 721 Duane, Glen W m Ellyn 11L 0137 AWE!! "?KM! l!l P- iljlmim. t. A homey-Marshall A. Burmeister, Francois N.

NOV- 18, Palmatier et a] 21 Appl. No.: 199,905 [57] ABSTRACT A light fixture with hollow chandelier arms which sup- 240/78 240/ 73 BA, 240/78 B port an electrical light source and are rotatably [51] Iut. Cl..... F215 l/06 mounted on a wire splice housing The chandelier arms [58] Fleld of Search 240/78 F, 78 B; form conduits for electrical wires to the light sources, 240/73 BA and may be rotated with respect to the housing to fold into a smaller volume for shipment or the like without [56] References Clted breaking the electrical connections to the light sources. UNITED STATES PATENTS The light fixture may be suspended on a chain or 1,741,408 12/1929 Doane 240/78 F mounted in a floor Stand, Or incorporated in a p j 1,007,293 10/1911 Kachel.... 240/78 F upport of a tent or the like.

1,668,772 5/1928 'Kestell 240/78 F i 8 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures Patented July 10, 1973 3,745,330

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Ca r1 A.Fr0$t 5 BMMMZIAKIL,WIL &

Patented July 10, 1973 S'Sheets-Sheet H I Mil H11 lill'il Inventor Carl A. Frost 5 BMFaWaM- Ptented July 10, 1973 3 Sheets-Sneet L Lww w nrmw W W A v LIGHT FIXTURE The present invention relates to light fixtures and more particularly to light fixtures of the chandelier or candelabra type.

Chandelier or candelabra type electric light fixtures have a centrally located axially extending ornamental member by means of which the fixture is suspended from the ceiling, generally by means of a chain. This type of lighting fixture generally has a wire splice housing from which a plurality of tubular light mounting branches extend. Electrical lamps are mounted on the tubular members and made to appear as closely as possible to candles. The electrical wires from the lamps extend through the tubular branches and are spliced within the housing. U.S. Pat. No. 2,804,542 of Siegel entitled Electric Lighting Fixture Construction of Aug. 27, 1957 is an example of such a light fixture.

Chandelier or candelabra type lighting fixtures are considered attractive, and they have the advantage of providing a plurality of relatively insignificant sources of light which collectively provide adequate illumination without requiring a brillian concentrated light source. Candelabras are particularly frail, however, making them difficult to transport, and further requiring large bulky packaging.

Candelabras are known which may be shipped prior to assembly and readily assembled at their destination, U.S. Pat. No. 1,741,408 of L. C. Doane and Albert B. Megraw of Dec. 31, 1929 illustrating such devices, but such chandeliers are not capable of being readily packaged and unpackaged for frequent shipment between use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a chandelier which is capable of being manipulated or folded into a reduced volume for shipment without dissembling, and which may thereafter be readily returned to an operable condition, hence making such chandeliers suitable for portable or temporary use.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a chandelier with a junction or wire splice box of relatively small diameter. Splicing boxes of excessive diameter detract from the appearance of such chandeliers as well as requiring additional space in order to transport the chandelier.

It is a further object of the present inventionto provide a chandelier in which the light source supporting arms of the chandelier are held in fixed position with respect to each other by a releasable mechanism which will permit deflection of the arms to minimize space requirements and to reduce the vulnerability of the chandelier to damage.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a chandelier which may also be supported by a vertical post, such as is provided by a floor stand. Additionally, it is an object of the present invention to pro- FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 illustrated in FIG. 2 and in FIG. 4;

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are front elevation, side elevation, and plan views, respectively, of the chandelier of FIGS. 1 through 6 in folded position,

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of a portion of the chandelier of FIGS. 1 through 6 incorporated in a tent post; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the same plane as FIG. 4 illustrating a modification of the chandelier of FIGS. 1 through 10.

The chandelier has a housing 10 which serves as a support structure for a plurality of chandelier arms 12 and 14, a wire splice housing, and a base for mounting the chandelier on a support structure, as will be apparent hereinafter. The housing 10 is best illustrated in FIGS. 4v and 6 and has a cylindrical shell 16 which carries an upper disc 18 and a lower disc 20 at opposite ends thereof. The disc 18 has an axial opening 22 which is aligned with an axial opening 24 on the lower disc 20. A cylindrical coupler 26 is mounted at its periphery in the opening 22 and extends outwardly coaxial with the shell 16. The coupler 26 has a channel extending therethrough coaxial with the shell 16 which is provided with threads 28. An upper ornamental stem 30 is provided with an outwardly extending cylindrical stub 32 which carries threads 34 which mate with the threads 28 of the coupler, thereby mounting the housing 10 on the upper ornamental stem 30. The upper ornamental stem 30 carries a ring 36 at its end opposite the stub 32, and the ring 36 is attached to a chain 38 for ceiling mounting.

The lower disc 20 also has affixed thereto a coupler 40 which is identical in construction to the'cou'pler 26. A lower ornamental stem 42 is provided with an outwardly protruding stub 44 identical in construction with the stub 32, and the stub 44 engages the coupler '40 to secure the lower ornamental stern in position on the housing 10.

As best illustrated in the FIGS. 1 through 3, the housing 10 carries two types of chandelier arms 12 and 14, although it is to be understood that the housing 10 may carry only chandelier arms of a given type, and may carry more or fewer chandelier arms than illustrated, there being four of each type of chandelier armillustrated in the figures. Each of the: chandelier arms 12 carries a decorative bend 46 at its upper end and a light source 48 at its lower end, while eachof the chandelier arms 14 carries a light source 48 at both ends. The light sources 48 have a candle-shaped lamp 50 mounted on a'tubular candle member 52 which carries a concealed socket for the lamp 50. An outwardly extending flange 54 at the base of the candle carries a cup 56 to simulate a candelabra.

The disc 18 has a plurality of apertures 58-which are disposed between the shell 16 and the opening 22. The apertures 58 are equal in number to the chandelier arms 12 and 14 and equally spaced about the perimeter of the disc 18. In like manner, an equal number of apertures 60 are disposed in the disc 20 between the shell 16 and the opening '24. Each of the apertures 60 confronts an aperture 58 in the disc 22, the centers of the apertures 58 and 60 being disposed on an axis parallel to the axis of the shell 16.

Each of the chandelier arms 12 is formed of a hollow cylindrical tube with a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the apertures 58 and 60, the tube having been designated 62. One end of the tube 62 carries the flange 54 and the light source 48. A portion of the tube 62 from the flange 54 conforms to a U-shape, that is,

it has a 180 bend, so that a portion of the tube 62 disposed on an axis parallel to the axis of the candle member 52 passes through one of the apertures 60 in the lower disc 20, the housing 10, and one of the apertures 58 in the upper disc 18. A portion of the tube upwardly of the upper disc 18 is provided with a further bend in the same direction which forms the ornamental bend The chandelier arms 14 are also formed by a hollow cylindrical tube designated 62A which is identical in diameter with the tube 62. One end of the tube 62A also extends to a light source 48, and this portion of the tube 62A also is provided with a 180 bend. In a manner identical to that of the chandelier arm 12, the tube 62A has a portion which is parallel to the axis of the candle member 52 of the light source 48 at the one end thereof, and this portion of the tube extends through one of the apertures 60 in the lower disc 20, the interior of the housing 10, and the confronting aperture 58 in the upper disc 18. The portion of the tube 62A on the upper side of the upper disc 18, however, is provided with a first gradual bend 63A in the same direction as on the lower side of the housing 10, and a second reverse bend 633 in the opposite direction in order to position the upper end of the tube 62 on an axis parallel to the axis of the sleeve 16 of the housing 10, and a second light source mounted .on this end of the tube 62A also. Both light sources 48 mounted on the ends of the tube 62A are identical in construction and identical to the light source on the chandelier arms 12.

The tubes 62 and 62A fit snuggly within the apertures 58 and 60, but the tubes are readily rotatable by the application of a force. This permits the chandelier arms 12 and 14 to all be rotated into planes parallel to a common plane passing through the central axis of the shell 16 of the housing 10, as illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. The cups 56 are removed from the flanges 54 prior to rotating the arms 12 and 14 to facilitate reduction of volume of the chandelier, and if desired the lamps 50 and candle member 52 may also be removed for protection against breakage in transit prior to rotating the arms. As a result, the light fixture may be packaged in a substantially smaller container for shipment than would be possible were the chandelier arms 12 and 14 locked in their operativeposition shown in FIG. 1, that is, in positions of equal angles with respect to adjacent chandelier arms.

The upper ornamental stem 30 has a hollow straight tube 64 which extends therethrough on the axis of the shell 16 of the housing 10, and a contour member 66 is disposed about the tube 64 to provide a pleasing appearance, the member 66 generally being of wood, but it may also be of plastic or some other readily shaped material. A disc 68 provided with an axial opening 70 is slidably disposed about the exterior surface of the contour member 66, and the disc is provided with a plurality of slots 72 extending inwardly from its periphery which are equally spaced about the periphery. The

slots 72 are of sufficient diameter to accomodate the tubes 62 and 62A of the chandelier arms 12 and 14, and the'slots 72 are equal in number to the chandelier arms 12 and 14. The force of gravity urges the disc 68 downwardly into abutment with the upper portions of the tubes 62 and 62A, thus permitting the tubes 62 and 62A to be oriented in the slots 72, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, thus maintaining the chandelier arms 12 and 14 in fixed positions with respect to each other, as illustrated in FIG. 1. For purposes of rotating the arms 12 and 14, the disc 68 must be manually lifted to release the chandelier arms 12 and 14 and permit their rotation to the positions shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 and described above. Elastomer rings 74 are generally disposed about each of the tubes 62 and 62A adjacent to, the upper surface of the disc 18 of the housing 10 for' the purpose of resisting rotation of the chandelier arms 12 and 14 in the apertures 58. In like manner, elastomer rings 76 are disposed about the tubes 62 and 62A adjacent to the lower surface of the disc 18 for the same purpose. The elastomer rings 74 and 76 wedge between the tubes 62 or 62A and the coupler 26 or 40, respectively, thus resisting rotation of the tubes 62 and 62A with respect to the housing 10. The grommets may be omitted if reliance is placed upon the slotted disc 68 for this purpose, or the slotted disc 68 may be omitted if reliance is placed upon the elastomer rings 74 and 76, but the use of both the elastomer rings and the slotted disc is preferable.

Each of the tubes 62 and 62A is provided with an orifice 78 within the housing 10, that is, between the upper disc 18 and the lower disc 20. The orifices 78 confront the central axis of the shell 16 of the housing 10, and permit electrical wires 80 and 82 to extend from the light sources 48 located at the ends of the tubes 62 and 62A, through the hollow tubes 62 and 62A, through the orifices 78, and to enter the interior of the housing 10 where they may be spliced to form two common conductors designated 80A and 82A. The common conductors 80A and 82A extend through the hollow tube 64 of the upper ornamental stem 30 where they may be intertwined with the chain 38 and extend to a source of electrical power, as is conventional. The housing 10 thus serves as a junction box or wire splice housing and should comply with the requirements of electrical codes. The shell 16, discs 18 and 20 may be constructed of electrically conducting materials, such as brass, and effectively connected to ground through the coupler 26, stub 32, tube 64, and chain 38. Where permitted by electrical codes, the discs 18 and 20 may be constructed of wood, or plastic.

The light fixture illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 9 may be modified for mounting on a stand, rather than being hung by a chain, as illustrated in FIG. 10. The lower ornamental stem 42 may be removed by unscrewing the stub 44 from within the threads of the coupler 40, and a threaded pipe with a male threaded end mating with the threads of the coupler 40 may be screwed into the coupler 40. The pipe may carry at its base a flat stand or plate 82, thereby permitting floor mounting of the light fixture. The pipe 80 is also preferably hollow, and the wires 80A and 82A may extend through the pipe 80 and extend from the flat stand 82 for electrical connection, as illustrated in FIG. 10.

FIG. 10 also illustrates the use of the light fixture as a portion of the support for a tent. The upper ornamental stem 30 has also been removed in FIG. 10 by unscrewing the stub 32 from the coupler 26, and a second post with a male threaded end of the same diameter and thread size as the stub 32 has been screwed into the coupler 26 to mount the pipe 84 thereon. The pipes 80 and 84 and the housing of the light fixture thus form a pole for a tent illustrated at 86.

In FIG. 10, it will be noted that the entire weight of the tent 86 and upper pole 84 rests upon the housing 10 and is carried by the discs 18 and 20. FIG. 11 illustrates a modified housing designated 10A which provides increased support for carrying the weight of the tent 86 and upper pole 84.

The housing 10A has an upper disc 18A and a lower disc 20A, the discs 18A and 20A being identical to the discs 18 and 20 except that the diameters of the orifices 22 and 24 are smaller than in the embodiment of FIG. 4 to permit a space between the orifices 22 and 24 and the apertures 58 and 60. A sleeve 88 is disposed within the orifices 22 and 24 and extends from the upper plate 18A and lower plate 20A. The sleeve 88 is provided with threads on its outer surface on the upper side of the upper disc 18A, the threads being designated 90. In like manner, the sleeve 88 is provided with threads 92 on its outer surface on the portion of the sleeve below the lower disc 20A. An inwardly threaded coupler 94 engages the threads 90 of the sleeve 88, and fastens the upper end of the sleeve 88 to the pipe 84. Inlike manner, an inwardly threaded coupler 96 engages the threads 92 at the lower end of the sleeve 88, and the lower pipe 80 is threadedly engaged within the threads of the lower coupler 96. In this manner, a solid cylindrical tubular structure consisting of the lower pipe 80, the lower coupler 92, the sleeve 88, the upper coupler 94, and the upper pipe 84 supports the tent 86.

The electrical wires 80A and 82A not only extend through the orifices 78 in the tubes 62 and 62A, but also extend through orifices 98 in the sleeve 88 which confront the orifices 78 in the tubes 62 and 62A. In this manner, electrical conductors may be extended either through the upper pipe 84 or the lower pipe 80 to a source of electrical power.

The light fixture of the present invention has many uses beyond that here set forth. It may be used in hallways, or dining rooms as a permanent lighting accessory, either pole mounted or chain mounted, or as a temporary lighting accessory for a large outdoor or indoor party. It is therefore intended that the scope of this invention be not limited by the foregoing embodiments, but only by the following claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. A lighting fixture comprising, in combination, a housing having a first wall and a second wall, said walls being spaced and parallel to each other and having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, each aperture in the first wall confronting an aperture in the second wall, the housing having a shell mounted on the first and second walls outwardly of the apertures therein to. form a closed chamber, a chandelier arm rotatably disposed in each aperture in the first wall and traversing the chamber of the housing and rotatably extending through each aperture of the second. wall, each of the chandelier arms being hollow and having an orifice extending through the portion thereof disposed within the housing, a light source mounted on each of the chandelier arms, each light source being electrical and including electric wires which extend, through the associated chandelier arm and the orifice therein into the closed chamber of the housing, said wires being electrically interconnected within the chamber of the housing in multiple electrical circuits, and support means for the lighting fixture operatively associated with the housing.

2. A lighting fixture comprising the combination of claim 1 wherein the first wall has an opening therein inwardly of the apertures and a coupler is disposed within the opening having threads, the support means having a member threadedly engaging the coupler, said member being a hollow stem and the electrical wires extending from the closed chamber of the housing through the hollow stem.

3. A lighting fixture comprising the combination of claim 1 wherein the first wall has an opening therein inwardly of the apertures and a coupler is disposed within the opening having threads, the support means having a member threadedly engaging the coupler.

4. A lighting fixture comprising the combination of claim 3 wherein the second wall has a second opening therein inwardly of the apertures and a second coupler is disposed within the opening having threads, the support means having two portions of a post forsupporting an overhead object, one portion threadedly engaging the first coupler and the second portion threadedly engaging the second coupler.

5. A lighting fixture comprising the combination of claim 3 wherein the apertures in the first and second wall are spaced from each other in a circle coaxially with the opening in the first wall, the member of the support means being an elongated stem extending outwardly on the axis of the circle, in combination with a disc having a cylindrical periphery provided with a plurality of recesses equal in number to the arms and equally spaced about the periphery of the disc, each recess being adapted to wedge about one of the arms, said disc having a central opening slidably disposed about the elongated stem and engaging each of the arms within a different recess thereof.

6. A lighting fixture comprising the combination of claim 3 wherein the coupler extends outwardly from the first wall, and an elastomer ring is disposed about each of the arms adjacent to the first wall, each ring engaging the confronting surface of the coupler.

7. A lighting fixture comprising, in combination, a housing having a cylindrical shell and an upper and a lower circular plate mounted on opposite ends of the shell and extending thereacross to form a closed chamber within the housing, the upper plate and the lower plate having. a central circular opening extending therethrough, an upper holiow inwardly threaded cylindrical coupler having one end mounted in the opening in the upper plate and extending coaxially outwardly from the shell, a lower hollow inwardly threaded cylindrical coupler having one end mounted in the opening in the lower plate and extending coaxially outwardly from the shell, an even number of equally spaced apertures disposed through the upper plate about the opening thereof, and an equal number of equally spaced apertures. disposed through the lower plate about the opening thereof, each of the apertures of the upper plate being disposed on an axis parallel to the axis of the shell. and passing through an aperture of the lower plate, a chandelier arm of a first type mounted in every other aperture of the upper plate and the confronting aperture of the lower plate, said arms of the first type having a bend extending from the lower plate and a bend:

through a greater angle than 180 extending from the upper plate, said arms carrying a light source at the end thereof adjacent to the 180 bend having a tubular portion disposed parallel to the axis of the shell, a chandelier arm of a second type mounted in each other aperture of the upper plate and confronting aperture of the lower plate, said arms of the second type having a l80 bend extending from the lower plate and a bend in the reverse direction from said bend through a lesser angle extending from the upper plate, the end of the arm of a second type adjacent to the upper plate being disposed on an axis parallel to the axis of the shell, said arms of the second type carrying a light source at both ends thereof having a tubular portion disposed parallel to the axis of the shell, the arms of the first and second arms in fixed angular relation to each other. 

1. A lighting fixture comprising, in combination, a housing having a first wall and a second wall, said walls being spaced and parallel to each other and having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, each aperture in the first wall confronting an aperture in the second wall, the housing having a shell mounted on the first and second walls outwardly of the apertures therein to form a closed chamber, a chandelier arm rotatably disposed in each aperture in the first wall and traversing the chamber of the housing and rotatably extending through each aperture of the second wall, each of the chandelier arms being hollow and having an orifice extending through the portion thereof disposed within the housing, a light source mounted on each of the chandelier arms, each light source being electrical and including electric wires which extend through the associated chandelier arm and the orifice therein into the closed chamber of the housing, said wires being electrically interconnected within the chamber of the housing in multiple electrical circuits, and support means for the lighting fixture operatively associated with the housing.
 2. A lighting fixture comprising the combination of claim 1 wherein the first wall has an opening therein inwardly of the apertures and a coupler is disposed within the opening having threads, the support means having a member threadedly engaging the coupler, said member being a hollow stem and the electrical wires extending from the closed chamber of the housing through the hollow stem.
 3. A lighting fixture comprising the combination of claim 1 wherein the first wall has an opening therein inwardly of the apertures and a coupler is disposed within the opening having threads, the support means having a member threadedly engaging the coupler.
 4. A lighting fixture comprising the combination of claim 3 wherein the second wall has a second opening therein inwardly of the apertures and a second coupler is disposed within the opening having threads, the support means having two portions of a post for supporting an overhead object, one portion threadedly engaging the first coupler and the second portion threadedly engaging the second coupler.
 5. A lighting fixture comprising the combination of claim 3 wherein the apertures in the first and second wall are spaced from each other in a circle coaxially with the opening in the first wall, the member of the support means being an elongated stem extending outwardly on the axis of the circle, in combination with a disc having a cylindrical periphery provided with a plurality of recesses equAl in number to the arms and equally spaced about the periphery of the disc, each recess being adapted to wedge about one of the arms, said disc having a central opening slidably disposed about the elongated stem and engaging each of the arms within a different recess thereof.
 6. A lighting fixture comprising the combination of claim 3 wherein the coupler extends outwardly from the first wall, and an elastomer ring is disposed about each of the arms adjacent to the first wall, each ring engaging the confronting surface of the coupler.
 7. A lighting fixture comprising, in combination, a housing having a cylindrical shell and an upper and a lower circular plate mounted on opposite ends of the shell and extending thereacross to form a closed chamber within the housing, the upper plate and the lower plate having a central circular opening extending therethrough, an upper hollow inwardly threaded cylindrical coupler having one end mounted in the opening in the upper plate and extending coaxially outwardly from the shell, a lower hollow inwardly threaded cylindrical coupler having one end mounted in the opening in the lower plate and extending coaxially outwardly from the shell, an even number of equally spaced apertures disposed through the upper plate about the opening thereof, and an equal number of equally spaced apertures disposed through the lower plate about the opening thereof, each of the apertures of the upper plate being disposed on an axis parallel to the axis of the shell and passing through an aperture of the lower plate, a chandelier arm of a first type mounted in every other aperture of the upper plate and the confronting aperture of the lower plate, said arms of the first type having a 180* bend extending from the lower plate and a bend through a greater angle than 180* extending from the upper plate, said arms carrying a light source at the end thereof adjacent to the 180* bend having a tubular portion disposed parallel to the axis of the shell, a chandelier arm of a second type mounted in each other aperture of the upper plate and confronting aperture of the lower plate, said arms of the second type having a 180* bend extending from the lower plate and a bend in the reverse direction from said bend through a lesser angle extending from the upper plate, the end of the arm of a second type adjacent to the upper plate being disposed on an axis parallel to the axis of the shell, said arms of the second type carrying a light source at both ends thereof having a tubular portion disposed parallel to the axis of the shell, the arms of the first and second type being rotatably disposed within the apertures in the upper and lower plates.
 8. A lighting fixture comprising the combination of claim 7 in combination with an upper ornamental elongated stem having a protruding threaded stub at one end threadedly disposed within the upper coupler, and a disc having a central opening disposed translatably about the upper ornamental stem, said disc having equally spaced peripheral recesses equal in number to the first and second types of chandelier arms, each recess being adapted to wedge about one of the chandelier arms, whereby the disc maintains the chandelier arms in fixed angular relation to each other. 